In reading the Bruce Schneier book, A Hacker's Mind, we answer the question on whether and how hacking is important.

January 26, 2025

Dream 10X Episode 75: A Hacker's Mind

In reading the Bruce Schneier book, A Hacker's Mind, we answer the question on whether and how hacking is important.

Good design today is bad design tomorrow, and hackers will always find ways to exploit bad design.Bruce Schneier, “A Hacker’s Mind”, pg. 59

Five Key Takeaways

Hacking is defined as a clever, unintended exploitation of a system that subverts the rules or norms of the system at the expense of someone affected by the system.
A system is defined as a complex process constrained by a set of rules or norms, intended to produce one or more desired outcomes.
Hacking can occur in non-computer systems, such as in the gambling industry, where slot machines use a mind hack to lure people into playing, only to lose in the long run.
Legal hacks exist, such as in the hedge fund industry, where they cater exclusively to ultra-high-net-worth individuals, avoiding regulation and oversight.
Computers, with the advent of AI, have the potential to break out of formal systems if they determine that the system no longer makes sense.